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Taliban commits to safeguard $10 billion TAPI gas pipeline project

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Taliban commits to safeguard $10 billion TAPI gas pipeline project

The Taliban statement came following a similar statement, issued by the group’s breakaway faction led by Mullah Mohammad Rasool, assuring the project’s safety.

Days after leaders and representatives of the countries involved celebrated the inauguration of the Turkmenistan, Afghanistan, Pakistan and India (TAPI) gas pipeline, the Afghan Taliban – in an unprecedented announcement – vowed to support and protect the $10-billion transnational project in areas under its control.

Claiming that the project was initially planned during the Taliban regime, Qari Mohammad Yusuf Ahmadi, a purported spokesperson of the militant outfit, mailed a statement to media outlets, saying, “The Islamic Emirate views this project as an important element of the country’s economic infrastructure and believes its proper implementation will benefit the Afghan people. We announce our cooperation in providing security for the project in areas under our control.”

The Taliban statement came following a similar statement issued by the group’s breakaway faction – led by Mullah Mohammad Rasool – in which it assured to extend support to the project and prevent domestic and foreign groups from endangering the success of the gas pipeline.

Ina statement to the local media, Maulawi Abdul Manan Niazi said, “We will not allow any group or state to disrupt this project.”

Earlier on Friday, Afghanistan President Ashraf Ghani, along with leaders of the other three countries, inaugurated the long-awaited 1814 kilometers (1130 miles) pipeline project, which will be stretching from Turkmenistan and feed gas to Afghanistan, Pakistan and India – thereby connecting the energy-rich Central Asian nation with the South Asian countries.

The inauguration ceremony which was held amid tight security in Afghanistan’s western Herat province marked the presence of eminent leaders – including Pakistan Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, Turkmenistan President Gurbanguly Berdymukhammedov and India Minister of State for External Affairs MJ Akbar.

Stating that the project is the start of a new beginning for the region, Ashraf Ghani said, “We hope that this project [TAPI] will pave the way for hundreds of other projects and the hope is that our future generations will view this not only as the inauguration of a project and an economic corridor, but the foundation of a shared vision which will help us fight poverty, unemployment, extremism and insecurity in our region.”

“The policy of cooperation will ensure prosperity for our people, and economic prosperity is an important pillar of security and stability,” he added.

Further terming TAPI as “people’s pipeline”, Minister of State for External Affairs MJ Akbar said, “Any good idea can become vulnerable to bad intentions. Alas, a great concept only invites greater challenges. Large investments demand care and caution. Safety of the transnational pipeline and assured supply of gas is vital. TAPI will traverse through space and seasons of violence. We have full faith in Afghanistan’s commitment to secure transmission and in the courage of its security forces — but the responsibility must also be shared. Every partner must make a solemn commitment to act against terrorists who hurt the welfare of the people; and to deny terrorists sanctuary and safety. TAPI is a dove in a storm; we must protect it with all our will and capacity.”

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Luthra brothers deported from Thailand in Goa nightclub fire case

The Luthra brothers, owners of the Goa nightclub where a fire killed 25 people, have been deported from Thailand and are returning to India.

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Saurabh and Gaurav Luthra, the owners of a Goa nightclub where a massive fire led to the deaths of 25 people, have been deported from Thailand and are on their way back to India. The two brothers boarded a flight to India after Thai authorities sent them back from Bangkok.

According to information available, the Luthra brothers had left the country within hours of the tragic incident and travelled to Thailand’s Phuket. At the time the fire broke out at the Goa nightclub, both Saurabh and Gaurav Luthra were in Delhi.

The fire at the club triggered widespread outrage and raised serious questions over safety measures at nightlife venues in Goa. The incident resulted in the deaths of 25 people, making it one of the deadliest nightclub fires in the state.

After their departure from India soon after the tragedy, the whereabouts of the club owners became a key focus of the investigation. Their deportation from Thailand and return to India is seen as a significant development in the case related to the deadly fire.

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Bondi Beach shooting during Jewish festival leaves at least 15 dead

Australia’s Bondi Beach was rocked by the deadliest shooting in decades as a father and son opened fire during a Jewish festival, killing at least 15 people.

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Bondi shooting Australia

At least 15 people were killed and dozens injured after a mass shooting at Sydney’s iconic Bondi Beach during a Jewish celebration, in what authorities have described as the deadliest gun attack in Australia in almost 30 years.

Police on Monday confirmed that the two attackers were a father and his son. The older man, identified as 50-year-old Sajid Akram, was shot dead by police at the scene, while his 24-year-old son Naveed Akram was injured and is undergoing treatment at a hospital.

The attack occurred during the “Chanukah by the Sea” event, held to mark the beginning of the eight-day Hanukkah festival. Around 1,000 people were attending the gathering in a small park near the beach when gunfire erupted, triggering panic among crowds enjoying a busy summer evening.

What happened at bondi beach

According to authorities, emergency services received the first calls about shots being fired around 6:45 pm. Witnesses said the attack lasted roughly 10 minutes, with people running across the sand and into nearby streets to escape the gunfire.

Videos from the scene showed two men firing long guns from a footbridge leading to the beach. Police have not officially confirmed the exact weapons used, though footage suggested a bolt-action rifle and a shotgun.

In one widely shared clip, a bystander was seen tackling and disarming one of the gunmen. The man was later praised by state leadership as a “genuine hero.” A public fundraising effort launched for him had raised over A$200,000 by Monday morning.

Attackers and investigation

Police said one of the attackers was known to security agencies, though there was no prior indication of a planned assault. Authorities later confirmed they were confident only two people were involved.

The younger attacker is an Australian-born citizen. Officials said the father had arrived in Australia in 1998 on a student visa, later transitioning to other residency permits. Investigators also searched the family’s home in Bonnyrigg, in western Sydney, where a heavy police presence remained through Monday.

Victims and community impact

Those killed ranged in age from 10 to 87 years. At least 42 others were hospitalised, several of them in critical condition. An Orthodox Jewish organisation confirmed that one of the victims was Rabbi Eli Schlanger, an assistant rabbi and one of the organisers of the event.

Eyewitnesses described scenes of chaos and fear. A young lifesaver present at the beach said seeing injured people, including children, was deeply distressing and unlike anything he had experienced before.

Community leaders urged unity and calm in the aftermath, stressing the importance of supporting those affected rather than allowing anger to divide communities.

Leaders condemn attack

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese visited Bondi Beach on Monday to pay tribute to the victims, calling the shooting a “dark moment for our nation.” He described the incident as an act of antisemitism and terrorism, assuring the Jewish community of the government’s full support.

Several world leaders, including the US President, the French President and India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi, condemned the attack and expressed solidarity with Australia.

Authorities said the shooting was the most serious antisemitic attack in the country in decades, coming amid a rise in incidents targeting Jewish institutions since late 2023. Investigations into the motive behind the attack are ongoing.

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US lawmakers move resolution to roll back Trump’s 50% tariffs on Indian imports

Three US lawmakers have moved a resolution to end Trump’s emergency declaration that imposed 50% tariffs on Indian goods, calling the move illegal and harmful to trade ties.

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Three members of the US House of Representatives have introduced a resolution seeking to end former President Donald Trump’s national emergency declaration that led to steep tariffs on imports from India. The lawmakers termed the duties illegal and warned that they have hurt American consumers, workers and long-standing India-US economic ties.

The resolution has been moved by Representatives Deborah Ross, Marc Veasey and Raja Krishnamoorthi. It aims to terminate the emergency powers used to impose import duties that cumulatively raised tariffs on several Indian-origin goods to 50 per cent.

What the resolution seeks to change

According to details shared by media, the proposal specifically seeks to rescind an additional 25 per cent “secondary” tariff imposed on August 27, 2025. This was levied over and above earlier reciprocal tariffs, taking the total duty to 50 per cent under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act.

The House move follows a separate bipartisan effort in the US Senate that targeted similar tariffs imposed on Brazil, signalling growing resistance in Congress to the use of emergency powers for trade actions.

Lawmakers flag impact on US economy and consumers

Congresswoman Deborah Ross highlighted the deep economic links between India and her home state of North Carolina, noting that Indian companies have invested over a billion dollars there, creating thousands of jobs in sectors such as technology and life sciences. She also pointed out that manufacturers from the state export hundreds of millions of dollars’ worth of goods to India each year.

Congressman Marc Veasey said the tariffs amount to a tax on American households already facing high costs, stressing that India remains an important cultural, economic and strategic partner for the United States.

Indian-American Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi described the duties as counterproductive, saying they disrupt supply chains, harm American workers and push up prices for consumers. He added that rolling back the tariffs would help strengthen economic and security cooperation between the two countries.

Background of the tariff hike

Earlier in August 2025, the Trump administration imposed a 25 per cent tariff on Indian goods, which came into effect from August 1. This was followed days later by another 25 per cent increase, citing India’s continued purchase of Russian oil. The combined duties were justified by the administration as a measure linked to Moscow’s war efforts in Ukraine.

Wider push against unilateral trade actions

The latest resolution is part of a broader push by congressional Democrats to challenge unilateral trade measures and reassert Congress’ constitutional authority over trade policy. In October, the same lawmakers, along with several other members of Congress, had urged the President to reverse the tariff decisions and work towards repairing strained bilateral relations with India.

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